One of the biggest and best solar eclipses, in American history, happens on August 21st. This will be the first total solar eclipse visible in the continental United States, in 38 years. The last time an eclipse path crossed the continental United States was in 1979. At the time, Jimmy Carter was president, a gallon of gas cost 86 cents, and Atari video games were popular.

Find a nice, clear spot with a good view of the sky.

You can watch the eclipse with special eclipse glasses. NEVER look directly at the sun without appropriate eye wear. Regular sunglasses are not safe to view the eclipse.

The total eclipse, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon, will last up to 2 minutesand 40 seconds, depending on your location.

After the 2017 solar eclipse, the next total solar eclipse visible over the continental United States will be on April 8, 2024.

A solar eclipse happens when themoon casts a shadow on Earth, fullyor partially, blocking the sun's light insome areas. A solar eclipse can onlytake place during a new moon. Onlypeople in a small area on Earth,were the moon’s shadow falls, cansee a total solar eclipse.